Amendment may force Liberals to pick at least two favourites

British Columbia Liberal Party members will consider an amendment today that would force voters in the leadership race to pick a second choice along with their first on a preferential ballot.

"Each voter is required to indicate on the ballot at least a first and a second preference," reads the amendment expected to be brought forward from the convention floor.

There are six people running to lead the party, but voters would not have to rank all of them under the amendment. "A ballot is not spoiled because the voter has not indicated a preference for all leadership contestants," it said.

The amendment is a proposed change to the extraordinary conventions main order of business, a motion that would see the leadership vote shift from a one-member-one-vote contest to one where votes are weighted to give all 85 of the province's constituencies equal weight.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.